Chapter 67: Foxy’s New Life
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Yu Sheng finally understood the secret behind Foxy’s strange ability to fire off one of her own tails like a projectile. He didn’t know whether other fox spirits in this world had the same power, but it seemed that Foxy’s clan had chosen a path much like that of fierce, legendary beast-warriors long ago. This special heritage allowed her to refine her tails in ways he could hardly imagine.
At this moment, Foxy was sitting directly across from Yu Sheng at the small dining table. She held her chopsticks awkwardly, as if she wasn’t entirely sure how to use them, yet she managed to shovel mouthful after mouthful of noodles in at a remarkable speed. She ate as though the simple meal before her were a rare feast: just a bowl of noodles topped with a handful of leafy greens, some slices of ham, and two neatly fried eggs. Still, she devoured it with obvious delight, slurping up the noodles and crunching happily on the greens, all without the polished manners one might expect. It was clear that, to her, this was a moment of pure happiness.
In truth, it was the first hot, freshly prepared meal she’d tasted in years. The biscuits and instant noodles Yu Sheng had given her earlier were fine, but this was different. Here she was, safe indoors, seated at a proper table, and savoring steaming hot food. It was a new and wonderful feeling.
“Slow down,” Yu Sheng said kindly, a touch of concern in his voice, as he watched Foxy nearly finish her entire bowl in just a few gulps. He reached out and lightly tapped her hand. “Don’t worry, there’s more in the pot if you’re still hungry. Also, look at how I’m holding my chopsticks—try it this way.”
Foxy raised her eyes from her nearly empty bowl and glanced at Yu Sheng’s hand, carefully adjusting her grip on the chopsticks. She still had half a fried egg in her mouth, and her cheeks bulged slightly as she chewed. Even so, it seemed she was learning quickly.
After swallowing, she asked, “B–Benefactor, am I eating too quickly?” She looked a bit embarrassed. Foxy noticed that Yu Sheng was only halfway through his bowl, and Irene, who was sitting beside them on the table, hadn’t even started eating. Foxy’s cheeks turned pink. “I just always feel like if I don’t eat fast, the food might vanish,” she admitted softly.
Yu Sheng gave a reassuring laugh. “That’s all right. You’ll get used to it in time. If you’re still hungry, I’ll get you more.”
Foxy’s ears perked up immediately. “Mm, okay,” she said, nodding eagerly.
Just as Yu Sheng was about to stand and fetch more noodles, Irene—who was perched on the tabletop—spoke up in her clear, small voice. “Let her have my bowl.” The doll-like figure pushed the untouched bowl in front of her toward Foxy with both tiny hands.
Without a second thought, Foxy nodded politely. “Thank you.” She didn’t question why a doll would have a bowl of food. Instead, she lowered her head and dug in once more, grateful for the extra portion.
When all three had finished, Yu Sheng noticed that Foxy’s bowl and chopsticks were practically spotless. They were so clean he could almost see his reflection in them. He smiled wryly, amazed at her enthusiasm.
After tidying up the kitchen and washing the utensils (though Foxy’s barely needed it), Yu Sheng changed into his outdoor clothes. He then searched through his wardrobe and found some of his own garments to give Foxy. Of course, these were far too large for her. While Yu Sheng was quite tall, Foxy stood at about five feet two inches. The clothes, though well-intended, hung loosely around her small frame. Pajamas could be oversized without trouble, but everyday clothes were trickier. Yu Sheng had to use several hidden safety pins and quick stitching to make them fit well enough so that Foxy wouldn’t look completely ridiculous.
Even with his best efforts, it was obvious Foxy was wearing a man’s outfit that was too large for her. Yet, her pretty face seemed to make up for any awkwardness. When she stepped outside, Yu Sheng was certain people would just think she was a lovely girl with a unique fashion sense rather than someone wearing ill-fitting clothes.
As Yu Sheng worked on adjusting the last few pins, Irene sat cross-legged atop the shoe cabinet near the door, propping her chin on her tiny hands and watching them both. Just as Yu Sheng finished, Irene spoke again. “Foxy, you can hide your ears and tail whenever you want, right? So why can’t you change your height too—or even your clothes? I can alter my own clothing whenever I like. Can’t fox spirits transform like that?”
Foxy’s ears twitched at the question. She turned her head and said proudly, “A powerful fox spirit can! My father once told me that a really strong one could become as tall as a mountain in the blink of an eye! They could race through forests and leap over entire ranges, chased by thousands of peacekeeping immortals. If caught, they might be punished for hundreds of years… But I’m not that strong. I’ve only learned to refine my ears and tail so far.”
Irene blinked in surprise. “That sounds, um, impressive, I guess. But it doesn’t sound like something I’d want to brag about. Anyway, you’re speaking much better now, aren’t you?”
Foxy smiled, squinting happily. “I think I’m getting used to talking to you two,” she said, her voice more confident than before.
Irene nodded, then turned her curious gaze toward Yu Sheng. “Are you both going out together?” she asked, resting her chin on her hands again, her tiny elbows on the cabinet’s surface.
“Of course we are,” Yu Sheng replied, checking the adjustments on Foxy’s clothes once more. “She doesn’t have any of her own clothes or shoes, so I’ll have to take her shopping. She can’t go alone.”
Irene’s eyes brightened. “I want to go out too.”
Yu Sheng was caught off guard. He stared at the doll, who held his gaze patiently. He finally understood what she’d been mulling over all morning. “You? How would that even work? A sixty-centimeter doll wandering about town would cause a panic!”
“You can carry me,” Irene said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I can pretend to be an ordinary doll.”
Yu Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Pretend how?”
Without warning, Irene let her arms and legs go limp. Her eyes, usually lively, grew dull and distant, as if the light inside them had flickered out. Even her expression became vacant. It was a bit unsettling.
A voice, quiet but clear, drifted into Yu Sheng and Foxy’s minds. “Look at me now. Don’t I seem like any normal doll you’d find in a toy shop window? If you set me down somewhere, no one would suspect a thing.”
Yu Sheng was speechless for a moment. It was a clever trick. But still, he felt uneasy. “Wouldn’t it look strange for a grown man to be walking around holding a doll like that?”
Instantly, Irene’s eyes lit up again and she leaped off the cabinet, scrambling onto Yu Sheng’s head, gripping his hair with her small fingers. “You carried me into the Otherworld to fight monsters! Now you won’t even take me out for a simple stroll? If you refuse, I’ll bite you so hard a bandage won’t help!”
Yu Sheng yelped and reached up to pry the tiny figure off his head before she could do any real damage. He managed to remove her and, without thinking, passed her over to Foxy, who was staring at the whole scene in astonishment. “All right, all right, you can come along. But Foxy has to carry you!”
Irene looked instantly pleased. She’d gotten her way, and it didn’t matter who carried her. She would have been fine sitting inside a suitcase, as long as she could peek through the zipper at the outside world. It had been ages since she’d seen the city beyond the apartment’s walls.
Yu Sheng, looking a bit relieved, then noticed another issue. He frowned, eyeing the painting frame strapped to Irene’s back. “What about that painting frame of yours? It’s too big and too noticeable. It’ll draw attention, and it’ll be hard for Foxy to carry you comfortably if it’s in the way.”
Irene reached behind and loosened the frame’s straps. “I’ll carry it separately,” she said calmly, holding it out. “As long as it doesn’t get too far away from me, it’ll be fine.”
Before Yu Sheng could argue further, Foxy stepped up and took the frame. Suddenly, a flurry of fluffy fox tails appeared behind her. With a quick motion, she slipped the painting frame into one of them, as though it were a hidden pocket.
Yu Sheng stared, utterly astonished. He’d imagined fox spirits’ tails might have some magical properties, but this was far beyond what he’d expected. “Wait—how did you do that?” he blurted out. “Is that some kind of special storage space inside your tail?”
Foxy blinked, then spread out her tails for Yu Sheng to see. It was the first time she’d explained it so openly. “This one’s for storage,” she said, pointing to one tail. “These two are good for keeping warm—like pillows or blankets. These others can grab things or be used for fighting. And the special one I shot off before, I can use as a projectile.” She sounded almost proud of how handy her tails were.
Yu Sheng was at a loss for words. “You mean you can actually fire them off like arrows?” he asked, still stunned.
Foxy nodded. “Yes, I can.”
“And all this is because of your ‘refinement’ skills?”
Another nod. “Yes.”
Yu Sheng could only shake his head, marveling at what he’d just witnessed. Fox spirits, it seemed, were more amazing than humans could ever imagine.
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Special Affairs Bureau, in the office of the Second Squad, Song Cheng arrived more than twenty minutes later than usual. He looked weary as he took his seat at his desk.
Almost immediately, the monitor in front of him flickered to life. The calm, unwavering face of Director Bai Li Qing appeared on the screen. Bai Li Qing, the head of the Special Affairs Bureau, had a reputation for never showing much emotion.
“You’ve taken a ride on ‘the Train,’ I see,” came the director’s smooth voice through the speaker. “Did something go wrong?”
Song Cheng sighed, not surprised by the director’s immediate contact. “It went… as it always does, and yet not quite,” he said, choosing his words carefully. He seemed uncomfortable, as if something about his latest journey bothered him. “Today’s train cars were more complicated than usual, and by the time I made it back, I’d already missed my regular stop.”
Bai Li Qing’s voice stayed even, but there was a hint of curiosity. “And what about the conversation with the passenger?”
Song Cheng straightened, leaning forward slightly. “Director, something is definitely off. When I asked the passenger about Wutong Road Station, he said there was no such station. That’s odd, but not impossible. But when I mentioned ‘Night Valley’…”
He paused, gathering his thoughts. “The passenger said that station had been canceled.” His tone grew serious, and for a moment he observed the director’s face on the screen. He believed he saw a flicker of genuine surprise there.
“This is the first time I’ve gotten that answer,” Song Cheng went on carefully. “Director, what do you think—”
Before he could finish, Bai Li Qing spoke decisively, “Arrange for a deep diver immediately. We need a deep dive as soon as possible.”